PowerLite Home Cinema 5030UB

I started with a 5030ub and upgraded to a 6050ub for 4K and HDR support. I was immediately disappointed in the poor static tone mapping, and it felt like a downgrade from coming from a solid SDR projector before hand. I invested in building my own video processor for tone mapping using MadVR open source and video processor.org with a HDMI capture card and GPU. This is not for the faint of heart to setup, tune and calibrate, but the payoff is well worth it. I have a dedicated light treated home theater that benefits from high contrast. I have a 180" screen, and the 6050ub lights it up very well while achieving excellent contrast and shadow detail. I wouldn't say that natively without a video processor it is worth it at this point in time since projectors native tone mapping has come so far. I also added an HDFury inline which adds support for Dolby Vision using an HDR flag hack and is a really nice upgrade which means I have all the functionality of newer models with the excellent color, lens and contrast ratio. I am on my second bulb, which cost under $100. I echo others that say 3D is amazing and I agree, hands down destroys anything else I have ever seen. I would love love to side by side my setup with a Valerion Max to see how it compares, but I doubt it will given my configuration. Obviously technology moved forward and everything improves over time, but newer isn't always better.

Years and years ago - like 8 at this point - I bought a  Epson 5030ub for $300cad. It was a fantastic deal. Still on same bulb, still runs perfectly. Its quiet, inky blacks, but in no way portable. If you are looking to set up a home theater, something like this would be perfect. You are not getting 4k for $300

I know that $500 *sounds* like a lot of money. And it is. But that is an ***extremely*** low budget in the world of projectors. Yes, you're going to have to buy used, but that goes without saying. You're also going to need to pick some other pretty significant compromise to make. And in this case, IMO, you should forget about 4K or HDR. If you stick with 1080p SDR, there starts to be some pretty decent options with good picture quality in this price range. Chief amongst them would be the **Epson 5020UB and 5030UB:** https://www.projectorcentral.com/Epson-PowerLite_Home_Cinema_5020UB.htm https://www.projectorcentral.com/Epson-PowerLite_Home_Cinema_5030UB.htm They were the last and best of Epson's flagship 1080p home theater projectors. They are over a decade old. But they would have superior brightness, contrast, and color accuracy than pretty much anything else in the $500 range. Including anything that claims to do 4K in this price range. You can find used models for less than $500. Example listings: https://www.ebay.com/itm/205824351687 https://www.ebay.com/itm/306379935912 And it's quite easy and affordable to find replacement lamps for them that would restore them to full brightness: https://www.myprojectorlamps.com/projector-lamps/Epson/PowerLite%20Home%20Cinema%205020UB.html

1080p Epson and Panasonic LCD projectors from ~2008-2013 are an excellent value used. Great colors and contrast. The bulbs are cheap, and if you drop in a fresh one, you can get enough brightness for SDR content (50-75 nits). For Epson, the models to watch are the 6500UB, 8500UB, 8700UB, 5020UB, and 5030UB. For Panasonic, the models to watch are the PT-AE3000, PT-AE4000, PT-AE7000U, and PT‑AE8000U

The PT-AE4000 was a *great* projector in its day, and that’s why it still impresses people — especially in a dark room. For $60–$200, I’d say it’s a solid deal **if** the lamp hours are low or recently replaced. At the higher end ($300–$400), I’d personally start looking at slightly newer Epson UB models instead. Just keep in mind it’s a \~15-year-old projector: brightness is modest by today’s standards, parts are aging, and replacement lamps can cost as much as the projector itself. Totally fine for movies in a light-controlled room, less ideal if there’s ambient light. As for wall vs screen — a white wall *works*, but even a cheap fixed-frame or pull-down screen will noticeably improve contrast and uniformity. You don’t need ALR at this budget, just a basic matte white screen will be a big step up. If you’re open to alternatives, used Epson 6500UB/8500UB/8700UB or later Panasonic AE models are worth a look. New cheap projectors may be brighter on paper, but image quality usually isn’t comparable.

I bought the $60 dollar one and it was reasonable for watching low stakes entertainment. It crapped out 3 days into it. I bought a used $200 Epson 1080p 3D capable one and haven’t regretted it. (dont remember the model)

I think you have the right instincts here A 4k projector will do the trick. Heck I have a 1080p Epson I picked up open box and a denon avr that can do 7.1. No atmos. And it sounds and looks amazing So nowadays an atmos capable receiver and 4k projector ( even just led ). Will look and sound amazing Just need a few small extra back speakers if and when you decide to use all the extra channels

I don’t have a 4k tv even. I will probably get one soon But I am really impressed with how good even an 1080p Epson can project at 110” image that is totally cinematic So I think any 4 k Epson will be totally good I feed it an Apple TV I have a marantz cinema 70 which is their lowest powered one and use an extra 2 channel amp I have to power fronts. That room looks pretty big so I would go with something cinema 50 and still have the option to add extra power later.

I have owned and used both. At the end of the day the specs mean absolutely nothing to me. What matters is the image I am looking at and again, I owned the 5030,5040,5050 (and the LS11000 for a couple of days) and yes, the JMGO outperforms them without question. If you can get a chance to see both I suggest you try cause you will be blown away. https://preview.redd.it/7rlbdueas6ze1.jpeg?width=5712&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a4eb60122f39d00e2208c72bbf7148ceee195fe8